Switch



NOV. 7, 1939. J E 2,179,385

SWITCH Filed Dec. 8, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 7 A --i4 26 g f5 IN VENTOR L/OSEPl-l SINGjI'R ATTORNEY J, SINGER Nov. 7, 1939.

SWITCH INVENTOR JOSEPH SINGE'R AA ATTORNEY I/II/I/I/II/III/III/Il/Il/I/l I Fi led Dec. 8, 1937 Patented Nov. 7, l d

This invention relates to electrical switches, more particularly of the type controlling multiple circuits known as multiple-way switches, e. g., a three way or a four way switch; and used 5 for selecting particular ones or combinations of a plurality of circuits.

Multiple-way or selective switches as commonly made today are operated by a rotary manipulative member which is turned from one angular position to the next. feature residing in such switches is that, in order to pass from the particular position at which the switch might be set, to another desired position, the manipulative member must be successively turned from the set position to the desired position through all the intervening posi- Not only is this time-consuming and an noying, but it also results in unnecessary wear upon the moving parts of the switch; moreover, it might be undesirable, in some instances, to cause functioning of the circuits or, rather, fixtures controlled by the said intervening positions.

tions.

It is the object of my invention to overcome the above enumerated objections by providing a multiple-way switch, in

tion or position may be directly selected, Without passing through the intervening stations. a further object of my invention to provide a di-- rectly selective switch which shall be a unitary and compact device of simple construction comprising few and inexpensive parts and which shall readily fit in existing fixtures, being for this purpose of standard dimensions and interchangeable with present equipment.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a switch particularly suitable for installation as a standard fixture switch in which a selected number of circuits may be quickly and conveniently closed from a neutral position or ofi position to any of the desired selected positions independently, and in which a manually operable member for effecting such selected po sition is indicative either of the particular circuit that is closed or of the off" or open circuit position of the switch.

contemplated by my invention to provide a switch in which a tiltable, manually operable member may independently and selectively control the circuit desired to be opened or closed and in which the angular position of the manually oper able member also indicates the particular circuit which is open or closed, thereby to indicate to the operator what change to make, to go to any other selected position.

FFI 2,179,385

svvrrcn Joseph Singer, New York, N. Y., assignor to Leo liil. Kalow, New York, N. Y.

Application December 8, 1937, Serial No. 178,661

For the attainment of the above and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, I have shown one embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic showing of the electrical circuits and connections;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a selective switch of this invention;

Figure 3 is a front View of the switch casing and parts, with the cover plate and manipulative finger removed;

Figure 4 is a detail of the construction of the manipulative finger;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 3;

Figures 6a to 6d are exploded views of the switch parts; Figure 6a showing the casing; Figure 6?), the battery contact plates; Figure 6c, the lamp contacts; and Figure 6d, the cover plate.

Multiple-way switches are commonly employed to regulate a plurality of circuits so that particular ones or combinations thereof may be selected; the plurality of circuits may supply currentto individual electrical fixtures or the plural circuits may be embodied in a single fixture. Merely for purposes of illustration, the latter is shown in Figure 1, wherein the single fixture 9a lighting lamp bulbl1as an incandescent filament 8 between. branch leads and supports l and 6, and a second filament 5 be tween the said lead and standard 6 (common lead) and a third lead and standard 4. Filament 8, for example, might consume watts and filament ii might burn 200 watts. Hence if the circuit including leads 6 and l were closed, the lamp will burn with an intensity equivalent to 100 watts; if the circuit including leads 5 and 4 were closed, the wattage would be 200; if both said circuits were closed, the lamp would consume 300 watts. The common lead 5 is connected, as shown, to portion l6 constituting screw base of the lamp; lead l is connected to contact plate ll, and lead ito contact plate M, the three portions being insulated from each other by separating insulations i5 and H3.

Lamp 9 is of known construction and is no part of this invention, which may be as readily applied, as already pointed out, to a plurality of independent circuits. There are hence four positions or conditions possible in lamp 9, namely; position (1), 106 watts; position (2) 200 watts; position (3) 300 watts. the combination of (l) and (2); and a fourth position in which the lamp is not lighted at all, or in the neutral posi- 8 (Claims.

An undesirable which the desired sta- It is More particularly, it is (as shown) or to regulate heating or any other kind of circuits and fixtures; hence the filaments 1 5 and 3 may be resistance elements of some other character.

The common lead 6 of lamp 9 is connected from lamp portion l6 by wire 26 to one side of battery 20. Lead 1 is connected from lamp portion H by wire 21 to a contact 37 of the improved switch 33 of my invention. Lead 4 of the lamp is connected from portion I4 by wire 24 to a contact 34' of switch 30.

The other side of current supply 20 is connected by wire 2| to a contact 3| of switch 30. In the neutral position of the manipulative member (presently described) no contact is made between current supply of battery contact 3| and either of the two lamp contacts 31 or 34. Battery contact 3| may be connected to lamp contact 37 to supply current to the 100 watt element or filament 8, i. e. position 1), so designated in Figure 1. nected to lamp contact 34 to supply current to the 200 watt element or filament 5, i. e. position (2). Or battery contact 3| may be connected to both 34 and 31 to supply 300 watts to the lamp, i. e. position (3).

The manipulative element of the switch is a manually operable tripping finger piece or trigger 32, shown in perspective in Figure 2, and in detail in Figure l. Referring to the latter figure, finger 32 has a spherical portion 33 which is journaled in a curved seat 23, provided interiorly of a bushing 22, the latter being provided with an opening 22h where through finger trigger 32 clears. The end of finger or trigger 32 which is inside the bushing 22 is provided with a central bore 321), Within which is slidable a pin 35, made of insulating material, extending from the finger or trigger and terminating in a contact ball or point 36. A spring 38 contained within the central bore 322) constantly urges pin 35 outwardly to maintain ball 36 in contact with the battery contact 3| and the lamp contacts 31 and 34, as will be seen, and to maintain spherical portion 33 of the finger or trigger seated in the curved seat 23 of the bushing. It will be observed from Figure 4 that pin 35 is constructed, in whole or in part, of insulating material so that contact ball 33 is entirely insulated from the manually operable trigger or finger 32 and from any other part of the switch except for whatever contacts the ball may make with 3|, 34 and 37, as will be seen as this description proceeds.

The battery or live circuit contact 3| is in the form of a T having a left' branch 3|L, a right branch MR and a vertical branch 3|V. Lamp contact 3'! is in the form of a quarter sector and is positioned between the vertical branch 3|V and the left branch 3|L of the battery contact; contact 34 is likewise in the form of a quarter sector, but is located between 3|V and 3|R. All three contacts are contained within a casing 25, best shown in Figure 6a, which is made of suitable insulating material and is substantially in the form of a half-circle, or at least has a flat top surface Ztlt and rounded bottom surfaces. Parallel and close to top surface 252?, the casing is provided with a recess 25H running horizontally, Figure 6a, and a recess 25V, running vertically Or battery contact 3| may be con-' and meeting the horizontal recess at a medial point, thus forming a T-shaped recess within which the T-formed battery contact plate 3| is received. Casing 25 is further provided with a groove 25L on its left (as viewed in Figure6a) and a similar groove 25R on its right, both being in the form of a quarter circle. The left lamp contact 31 which is formed of a strip, see Figure 6c, is received in left groove 25L with its horizontal portion located in the left part of recess 25H; right contact 34 is received in right groove 25L and the right part of recess 25H. As seen in Figure 3, the vertical portions of both 31 and 34 are located in the vertical recess 25V. Casing 25 is closed by cover 28, Figure 6d, which is slotted 28H and 28V to correspond to recesses 25K and 25V and to the shape of contact plate 3 The seat 23 of bushing 22 in which the spherical portion 33 of switch finger trigger 32 is journaled, is located at the point of intersection of the recesses 251-1 and 25V (likewise, at the point of intersection of branches" 3|L-3|R and 3|V of contact plate 3|). By virtue of spring 38, already described, ball 36 is constantly maintained in contact with battery or live circuit plate 3|. In the neutral position of switch finger 3|, 1. e. with no current supplied to lamp 9, it is in a normal position relative to the casing, more particularly relative to contact plate 3|; this is the position shown in solid lines in Figure 2. In the neutral position of finger 32, its ball 36, represented in Figure 3 by dot and dash circles, will be positioned precisely at the intersection of the three branches 3|L, 3|R and 3|V of plate 3|; designated N in Figure 3. In this position of the finger or trigger ball 36, it is out of contact with either lamp contact 31 (left) or lamp contact 34 (right) and is in contact only with battery plate 3|.

Due to the spherical seating of finger or trigger 32, it may be turned or tilted in a horizontal plate to either the left (position (2), Figure 2) or to the right (position (1)) or may be turned or tilted in a vertical plane to position (3). Inasmuch as the fulcrum of the finger 32 is at its midpoint (the lever being of the first class), the position designations of the manipulative end of the finger, in Figure 2, are reversed from the position designations of the contact or ball end, in Figures 3 and 1. In position (1) (left), Figures 3 and 1, ball 33 contacts the lamp contact 31 as well as the battery contact 3|; hence the circuit is completed from one side of battery 20, Figure 1, through 3|3'|, to lamp element 8 and to the other side of battery. In position (2) (right) Figures 3 and 1, ball 35 makes contacts 3l34 to supply current to element or filament 5. In position (3), Figures 3 and l, the ball is in contact with both left contact 31 and right contact 34 (as well as battery contact 3!) hence the circuits to both elements or filaments 8 and 5 are closed.

The battery or live circuit contact plate 3| is provided with three folds or crimps 3|r, Sly and 3M1, Figures 6? and 3, in its branches 3|R, 3|L and 3|V, respectively, serving as detents for the purpose of retaining the manipulative finger in any one of its four positions. For example, as ball 36 is moved to the left (as viewed in Figure 3) it will snap over crimp or lug 3| against the urgency of spring 38; the lug 3| 1 hence will offer resistance to the rightway movement of the ball from position (1). Thus the temporary resistance or obstruction provided by the crimping 3| 1,

- member 36, as it is passed into the T-shaped recesses. For'this purpose the quadrants 3A and 31 are formed with camming ends 35a, 3% and 31a, 312), which disposes the side wall contacts which the members 3 and 3'? provide, in a resilient manner, to give desired wiping contact, as will be readily understood.

Bushing 22 is threaded at 22a, Figures 4 and 2, to receive a cover ring or nut 29, Figure 4, shown in dot and dash lines. Either the cover or the casing itself or both may be provided with indicia (not shown) to indicate the adjusted position of manipulative finger 32.

It will be observed that the threaded portion 22 serves as a means to mount the entire switch assembly wherever it may be found desirable to use the switch by passing the neck 22 through a boring in a fixture part F and then tensioning the nut 29 in position. This serves to make my switch appli able as a well known and standard installation to any lighting fixture.

Having thus described my invention and illus trated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. An electric switch comprising a base of insulating material havin' a pair of connecting recesses forming a guideway, a main fixed contact in said guideway approximating the shape of the guideway, a pair of fixed contact plates mounted on said base and a manually operable operator provided with a substantially universal. pivot and having a contact bridging conducting end portion disposed within said guideway in contact with said main contact in all positions, the said operator] being movable in said guideway from a neutral position in which the said end portion is out of contact with the said contact plates to different positions in which the said end portion is in contact with a selected contact a plate.

2. An electric switch comprising a base of insulating material having a pair of connecting elongated channel-shaped recesses forming a T- shaped guideway, a T-shaped fixed contact disposed on the bottom of said guideway, a pair of fixed. contact plates mounted on said base and a manually operable operator provided with a substantially universal pivot and having a contact bridging conducting end portion disposed within said guideway in contact with said main contact in all positions, the said operator being movable in said guideway from a neutral position in which the said end portion. is out of contact with the said contact plates to different positions in which the said end portion is in contact with a selected contact plate.

3. An electric switch comprising a base of insulating material having a pair of connecting elongated channel-shaped recesses forming a T- shaped guideway, a T-shaped fixed contact disposed on the bottom of said guideway, a pair of fixed contact plates mounted. on said base and a manually operable operator provided with a substantially universal pivot and having a contact bridging conducting end portion disposed within said guideway in contact with said main contact in all positions, the said operator being movable in guideway from a neutral position in which the said end portion is out of contact with the said contact plates to different positions in which the said end portion is in contact with a selected contact plate, each of the branches of said T shaped contact having a raised portion serving to hold the operator in adjusted position.

4. An electric switch comprising a base of insulating material having a pair of connecting elongated channel-shaped recesses forming a T- shaped guideway a T-shaped fixed contact disposed on the bottom of said guideway, a pair of fixed contact plates mounted on said base, one in each of the sectors formed between the leg and arms of the guideway, and a manually operable operator provided with a substantially universal pivot and having a contact bridging conducting end portion disposed within said guideway in contact with said main contact in all positions, the said operator being movable in said guideway from a neutral position in which the said end portion is out of contact with the said contact plates to different positions in which the said end portion is in contact with a selected contact plate.

5. An electric switch comprising a base of insulating material having a pair of connecting elongated channel-shaped recesses forming a T- shaped guideway a T-shaped fixed contact disposed on the bottom of said guideway, a pair of fixed contact plates mounted on said base, one in each of the sectors formed between the leg and arms of the guideway, and having their end portions disposed in the adjacent arm and leg of the guideway, and a manually operable operator provided with a substantially universal pivot and having a contact bridging conducting end portion disposed within said guideway in contact with said main contact in all positions, the said operator being movable in said guideway from a neutral position in which the said end portion is out of contact with the said contact plates to diiierent positions in which the said end portion is in contact with a selected contact plate.

6. An electric switch comprising a base of insulating material having a pair of elongated channel-shaped connecting recesses forming a T- shaped guideway, said base also having a groove connecting the foot of the guideway with each arm thereof, a main fixed contact in said guideway approximating the shape of the guideway, a pair of fixed contact plates mounted on said base, one in each of the areas between the leg and each arm of the guideway and having their median portions disposed in said grooves and end portions disposed in the leg and adjacent arm of the guideway, and a manually operable operator provided with a substantially universal pivot and having a contact bridging conducting portion disposed within said guideway in contact with said main contact in all positions, the said operator being movable in said guideway from a neutral position in which the said bridging portion is out of contact with the said contact plates to dilierent positions in which the said end portion is in contact with a selected contact plate or with both contact plates.

7. An electric switch comprising a body of insulating material, said body having a T-shaped channel and a groove connecting the foot of the channel with each arm thereof, forming a pair of sector-like portions disposed between the leg and arms of the channel, a T-shaped contact plate lodged on the bottom of said channel, and a pair of conducting elements each substantially encircling said sector-like portions.

8. An electric switch comprising a body of insulating material, said body having an openended T-shaped channel and a groove connecting the foot of the channel with each arm thereof, forming a pair of sector-like portions disposed between the leg and arms of the channel, a T- shaped contact plate lodged on the bottom of said channel, a pair of conducting elements each substantially encircling said sector-like portions, said body also having passages for lead in wires at the end of each arm and leg of the guideway, and a closing plate having a T-shaped slot in registry with said guideway.

JOSEPH SINGER. 

